{UAH} Muslim school bus driver stops on busy road to pray
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12:56 AM |
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Parents' fury as Muslim school bus driver stops on busy road to pray
A Muslim school bus driver has been criticised by parents after he stopped his vehicle on a busy main road to pray.
The coach driver left around 50 children, parents and teachers for 10 minutes while he conducted his daily prayers .
Angry mums claim he 'risked the lives' of those on board while local Muslim leaders have also condemned his behaviour.
They say there is flexibility as to what times Salat prayers - typically conducted five times a day - are performed.
Mum Claire Powell, 36, whose daughter Heidi, nine, was on board, said: "I was absolutely livid when I heard.
"He just stops on a busy road without any warning, gets out, washes his feet, pulls out a mat and starts to pray.
"There were people swerving to avoid the coach and beeping. He was putting children's lives at risk.
"At the end of the day he has a duty of care to fulfil. This isn't about his religion – he simply shouldn't have done it."
Adele Richards, 41, also feared for the safety of her daughter Ruby, nine.
She said: "All it would have taken was for a big lorry to come flying round the corner and hit them – that would have been very serious, there could have been fatalities.
"It would have been horrendous."
The driver had taken children from Meon Junior School in Southsea, Hants., on a school trip to London.
He was just one mile away from completing the return journey when he pulled over, washed his feet and set up a prayer mat at the side of the road.
Portsmouth city councillor and practising Muslim Cllr Yahiya Chowdhury said daily prayer times are flexible.
He said: "It is sad what he has done. If he is doing a job like that then he should care for the children first and make sure the children are safe before he goes to pray.
"He should not put the children at risk to pray. That is wrong."
Local Muslim activist Sumel Chowdhury added: "It's not acceptable. I think it's completely wrong. He should have parked the vehicle in a safer place to pray.
"Prayers are flexible, if you miss one you can do it one or two hours later."
Coach company Vision Travel has apologised and launched an investigation into the man's actions.
A spokeswoman said: "I would like to make it clear there were parents and teachers on board, so the children were not left alone at any point.
"It was a one-off incident and since we were made aware of the incident we apologised straight away to the school and parents.
"The driver was given a warning, which is normal procedure, and we are looking into the matter."
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